Original from Posting on AtariAge

I present you super fast routine for drawing circles in graphics mode 8 and 8 + 16.

Moj Mikro magazine article listings are available as zipped file in download section. It contains ATR disk image file with Atari DOS system for using with disk based, real Atari machine or any Atari 8-bit emulator. To load Atari BASIC programs properly, Atari must be powered with Atari BASIC enabled, or you can try them with any compatible BASIC.

You can try, use and modify the programs and routines for whatever purpose you want.

Super Fast Circle Routine#

  • Magazine: Moj Mikro, 1989/3
  • Author : Zlatko Bleha
  • Page : 27 - 31
  • Article link
  • Atari BASIC listing on disk (tokenized): M8903284.BAS(info)
  • Atari BASIC listing (listed): M8903284.LST
  • Assembly language listing: CIRCLE.LST

This routine uses very fast algorithm for drawing circles. It works in graphics mode 8. To see it in action, try the following demonstration program, which includes circle routine in DATA tables for using it from Atari BASIC. Also included is assembly language source code for anybody to examine inner workings of the algorithm. It is written in ATMAS 2.

Basic Listing: M8903284.LST#

1 REM *******************************
2 REM PROGRAM  : SUPER FAST CIRCLE ROUTINE
3 REM AUTHOR   : ZLATKO BLEHA
4 REM PUBLISHER: MOJ MIKRO MAGAZINE
5 REM ISSUE NO.: 1989, NO.3, PAGE 28
6 REM *******************************
7 REM 
10 FOR A=30000 TO 30288
20 READ B:C=C+B:POKE A,B
30 NEXT A
40 IF C<>28218 THEN ? "*** DATA ERROR ***":END 
50 DATA 120,104,104,104,133,58,104,133,51,133
60 DATA 60,104,133,50,133,59,104,104,168,133
70 DATA 54,104,104,208,5,152,88,76,242,117
80 DATA 133,56,56,233,1,133,55,160,0,132
90 DATA 57,165,59,24,101,57,133,50,152,101
100 DATA 60,133,51,165,54,101,56,133,61,32
110 DATA 242,117,165,54,56,229,56,133,62,32
120 DATA 242,117,165,59,56,229,57,133,50,165
130 DATA 60,233,0,133,51,165,62,32,242,117
140 DATA 165,61,32,242,117,165,59,24,101,56
150 DATA 133,50,152,101,60,133,51,165,54,101
160 DATA 57,133,63,32,242,117,165,54,56,229
170 DATA 57,133,64,32,242,117,165,59,56,229
180 DATA 56,133,50,165,60,233,0,133,51,165
190 DATA 64,32,242,117,165,63,32,242,117,230
200 DATA 57,165,55,56,229,57,229,57,16,7
210 DATA 198,56,24,101,56,101,56,133,55,165
220 DATA 56,197,57,48,3,76,89,117,96,104
230 DATA 104,104,133,58,104,133,51,104,133,50
240 DATA 104,104,160,0,132,49,133,48,10,38
250 DATA 49,10,38,49,24,101,48,170,152,101
260 DATA 49,133,49,138,10,38,49,10,38,49
270 DATA 10,38,49,24,101,88,133,48,165,49
280 DATA 101,89,133,49,166,51,134,53,165,50
290 DATA 170,70,53,106,70,53,106,70,53,106
300 DATA 24,101,48,133,48,165,53,101,49,133
310 DATA 49,138,41,7,170,152,56,106,202,16
320 DATA 252,166,58,240,6,17,48,145,48,88
330 DATA 96,73,255,49,48,145,48,88,96
500 REM ***************************
501 REM *  DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM  *
502 REM ***************************
503 REM 
510 GRAPHICS 8:SETCOLOR 2,0,0:COLOR 3
520 FOR A=2 TO 90
530 Q=USR(30000,1,A,A,A)
540 Q=USR(30000,1,319-A,A,A)
550 NEXT A
560 ? "PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE"
570 IF PEEK(555)=0 THEN 570
580 ? :? :? :FOR A=2 TO 90
590 Q=USR(30000,1,319-A,159-A,A)
600 Q=USR(30000,1,A,159-A,A)
610 NEXT A
620 ? "PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE"
630 IF PEEK(555)=0 THEN 630
640 GRAPHICS 8:SETCOLOR 2,0,0:COLOR 3
650 FOR A=2 TO 79 STEP 4
660 Q=USR(30000,1,100,A,A)
670 NEXT A
680 FOR A=82 TO 2 STEP -4
690 Q=USR(30000,1,A+100,A,A)
700 NEXT A
710 ? "PRESS ANY KEY TO START AGAIN"
720 IF PEEK(555)=0 THEN 720
730 GOTO 510

ATAMAS 2 Assembler Listing CIRCLE.LST#

*
* FAST CIRCLE DRAWING ROUTINE
* 
* Author   : Zlatko Bleha
* Publisher: Moj Mikro magazine
* Issue No.: 1989, No.3, Page 27
*
* -----------------------------
* System variables on Page Zero
* -----------------------------
*
LO    EQU $30
HI    EQU $31
XLO   EQU $32
XHI   EQU $33
XLOH  EQU $34
XHIH  EQU $35
Y     EQU $36
A     EQU $37
B     EQU $38
C     EQU $39
POK   EQU $3A
X1    EQU $3B
X2    EQU $3C
YVIB  EQU $3D
YMAB  EQU $3E
YVIC  EQU $3F
YMAC  EQU $40
*
* -----------------------------------
* Taking circle parameters from stack
* -----------------------------------
*
      ORG $7530
      SEI
      PLA
      PLA
      PLA
      STA POK
      PLA
      STA XHI
      STA X2
      PLA
      STA XLO
      STA X1
      PLA
      PLA
      TAY
      STA Y
      PLA
      PLA
      BNE NEXT
      TYA
      CLI
      JMP PLOT
NEXT  STA B
      SEC
      SBC #$1
      STA A
      LDY #$0
      STY C
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X+C,Y+B
* -----------------------------
*
LOOP  LDA X1
      CLC
      ADC C
      STA XLO
      TYA
      ADC X2
      STA XHI
      LDA Y
      ADC B
      STA YVIB
      JSR PLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X+C,Y-B
* -----------------------------
*
      LDA Y
      SEC
      SBC B
      STA YMAB
      JSR PLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X-C,Y-B
* -----------------------------
*
      LDA X1
      SEC
      SBC C
      STA XLO
      LDA X2
      SBC #$0
      STA XHI
      LDA YMAB
      JSR PLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X-C,Y+B
* -----------------------------
*
      LDA YVIB
      JSR PLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X+B,Y+C
* -----------------------------
*
      LDA X1
      CLC
      ADC B
      STA XLO
      TYA
      ADC X2
      STA XHI
      LDA Y
      ADC C
      STA YVIC
      JSR PLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X+B,Y-C
* -----------------------------
*
      LDA Y
      SEC
      SBC C
      STA YMAC
      JSR PLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X-B,Y-C
* -----------------------------
*
      LDA X1
      SEC
      SBC B
      STA XLO
      LDA X2
      SBC #$0
      STA XHI
      LDA YMAC
      JSR PLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT X-B,Y+C
* -----------------------------
*
      LDA YVIC
      JSR PLOT
* -----------------------------
      INC C
      LDA A
      SEC
      SBC C
      SBC C
      BPL JUMP
      DEC B
      CLC
      ADC B
      ADC B
JUMP  STA A
      LDA B
      CMP C
      BMI END
      JMP LOOP
END   RTS
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT routine
* -----------------------------
*
* ------------------------------------
* Taking parameters from stack in case
* PLOT routine is called directly from
* BASIC
* ------------------------------------
*
      PLA
      PLA
      PLA
      STA POK
      PLA
      STA XHI
      PLA
      STA XLO
      PLA
      PLA
      LDY #$0
*
* -----------------------------
* Beginning of the PLOT routine
* -----------------------------
*
* Calculating A*40
* -----------------------------
*
PLOT  STY HI
      STA LO
      ASL
      ROL HI
      ASL
      ROL HI
      CLC
      ADC LO
      TAX
      TYA
      ADC HI
      STA HI
      TXA
      ASL
      ROL HI
      ASL
      ROL HI
      ASL
      ROL HI
*
* -----------------------------
* A*40+VIDEO
* -----------------------------
*
      CLC
      ADC $58
      STA LO
      LDA HI
      ADC $59
      STA HI
*
* -----------------------------
* X/8
* -----------------------------
*
      LDX XHI
      STX XHIH
      LDA XLO
      TAX
      LSR XHIH
      ROR
      LSR XHIH
      ROR
      LSR XHIH
      ROR
*
* -----------------------------
* A*40+VIDEO+X/8
* -----------------------------
*
      CLC
      ADC LO
      STA LO
      LDA XHIH
      ADC HI
      STA HI
*
* -----------------------------
* Calculating a location of
* destination bit
* -----------------------------
*
      TXA
      AND #$7
      TAX
      TYA
      SEC
ROT   ROR
      DEX
      BPL ROT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT or UNPLOT?
* -----------------------------
*
      LDX POK
      BEQ UNPLOT
*
* -----------------------------
* PLOT
* -----------------------------
*
      ORA (LO),Y
      STA (LO),Y
      CLI
      RTS
*
* -----------------------------
* UNPLOT
* -----------------------------
*
UNPLOT  EOR #$FF
        AND (LO),Y
        STA (LO),Y
        CLI
        RTS
* -----------------------------

Description#

Algorithm is based on one from Croatian computer magazine Racunari (number 31). There is a little faster way of doing this, but data must be provided in tables for sine and cosine. But this alternative takes more RAM.

The routine consists of two parts: main program for calculating X and Y coordinates and second part with PLOT routine for drawing (or erasing) pixels on X and Y coordinates. Calculation of coordinates is done for one eighth of the circle. Other seven parts are simply mirrored from original mentioned pattern. We take advantage of this fact, because circle is simetricly shaped. The routine uses Page Zero locations for variables for even faster execution. There are 17 of them.

Usage of the routine#

A=USR(30000,POK,X,Y,R)

30000 Starting address of the calling routine
POK 1 (draw the circle), 0 (erase the circle)
X X coordinate of the circle
Y Y coordinate of the circle
R Radius of the circle

The routine is not relocatable. If you want to relocate it anyway, use assembler of your choice and assemble it to another location or amend the DATA tables in Atari BASIC program demonstration.

Maximum value for radius is 127, which is more than enough, because the circle with such radius will not be seen on the screen in whole anyway. If you choose wrong parameter values and consequently break the borders of the screen, don't worry, circle will be drawn anyway, but with its parts in different places. Experiment with the values for best results and your own fun.

The included assembly language listing shows what is necessary for implementing circle algorithm, calculating coordinates and drawing pixels and circles on the screen.

Fast circle drawing in pure Atari BASIC#

  • Magazine: Moj Mikro, 1989/3
  • Author : Zlatko Bleha
  • Page : 27 - 31
  • Atari BASIC listing on disk (tokenized): M8903282.BAS
  • Atari BASIC listing (listed): M8903282.LST

Next example is demonstration of implementing mentioned circle algorithm in pure Atari BASIC. This program shows how much faster it is compared to classic program using sine and cosine functions from Atari BASIC (shown in last example).

Basic Listing M8903282.LST#

1 REM *******************************
2 REM PROGRAM  : FAST CIRCLE DRAWING
3 REM AUTHOR   : ZLATKO BLEHA
4 REM PUBLISHER: MOJ MIKRO MAGAZINE
5 REM ISSUE NO.: 1989, NO.3, PAGE 29
6 REM *******************************
7 REM 
10 GRAPHICS 8:SETCOLOR 2,0,0:COLOR 3
20 ? "ENTER X, Y AND R"
30 INPUT X,Y,R
40 IF R=0 THEN PLOT X,Y:END 
50 B=R:C=0:A=R-1
60 PLOT X+C,Y+B
70 PLOT X+C,Y-B
80 PLOT X-C,Y-B
90 PLOT X-C,Y+B
100 PLOT X+B,Y+C
110 PLOT X+B,Y-C
120 PLOT X-B,Y-C
130 PLOT X-B,Y+C
140 C=C+1
150 A=A+1-C-C
160 IF A>=0 THEN 190
170 B=B-1
180 A=A+B+B
190 IF B>=C THEN 60

Use some valid values for coordinates and radius, for example:

X=40, Y=40, R=30
X=130, Y=90, R=60

Slow circle drawing in Atari BASIC#

  • Magazine: Moj Mikro, 1989/3
  • Author : Zlatko Bleha
  • Page : 27 - 31
  • Atari BASIC listing on disk (tokenized): M8903281.BAS(info)
  • Atari BASIC listing (listed): M8903281.LST

This is classic example for drawing circles from Atari BASIC using sine and cosine functions. Unfortunatelly, this is very slow way of doing it and not recommended. Just use routine shown above and everybody will be happy

Basic Listing M8903281.LST#

1 REM *******************************
2 REM PROGRAM  : SLOW CIRCLE DRAWING
3 REM AUTHOR   : ZLATKO BLEHA
4 REM PUBLISHER: MOJ MIKRO MAGAZINE
5 REM ISSUE NO.: 1989, NO.3, PAGE 29
6 REM *******************************
7 REM 
10 GRAPHICS 8:SETCOLOR 2,0,0:COLOR 3
20 FOR A=0 TO 6.28 STEP 0.02
30 X=SIN(A)*50+150
40 Y=COS(A)*50+80
50 PLOT X,Y
60 NEXT A

Conclusion#

Returning back to first program with the fastest way of drawing circles... There is one more thing to note. In case you want to use PLOT subroutine, which is part of the main circle routine, then read following explanation.

PLOT routine is written so it can be used easily from Atari BASIC program independently from main circle routine, by using like this:

A=USR(30179,POK,X,Y)

POK 1 (drawing a pixel), 0 (erasing a pixel)
X X coordinate of the pixel
Y Y coordinate of the pixel

The routine alone is not any faster than normal PLOT command from Atari BASIC, because USR command takes approximately 75% of whole execution. But, used as part of the main circle routine it does not matter anymore, because it is integrated in one larger entity. There the execution is very fast, with no overhead. PLOT routine is here for you to examine anyway. You never know if you will maybe need it in the future.

Greetings, Gury